One in five business leaders earn less than the minimum wage, according to a CPME study on the remuneration of SME managers

The confederation of small and medium-sized businesses surveyed a little over a thousand of its members and wants to put an end to the image of the boss who would necessarily earn a lot of money.

According to a study by the Confederation of Small and Medium Enterprises (CPME) which concerns industry, construction, commerce and services, three quarters of VSE-SME managers receive less than 4,000 euros per month.

For Jean-Eudes du Mesnil, secretary general of the confederation of small and medium-sized enterprises (CPME), this is proof that these business leaders are tightening their belts, sometimes more than others. “Employees are necessarily paid the minimum wage, therefore at 1 400 euros. And you have 20% of business leaders who do not earn 1,400 euros.”

The study does not specify the average remuneration of the business leaders in the study. The sample is also rather small, with 1331 responses (0.5% percent of total CPME members). The employers’ organization therefore does not claim to be exhaustive, but above all intends to challenge the public authorities.

A simplification of expected standards

“The texts fall on us with, from time to time, the fact that we do not take into account the differences by company size. It would be good if the managers also had this conception, because the rules to which the companies are subject companies will not be experienced in the same way in a company which has an HR department, a human resources department, IT, etc. as someone who has five employees”, explains Jean-Eudes du Mesnil.

“Small boxes are not big scale boxes”, he adds. The CPME therefore expects a simplification of the standards which concern these business leaders. A sea serpent, revived by the government. Announcements are expected in February.